Bahawalpur: Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur in collaboration with Pakistan Phytopathological Society and Australian Center for International Agricultural Research the 8th International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, Baghdad ul-Jadeed Campus the Islamia University of Bahawalpur has started. The conference continued from November 26 to November 28. Inaugurating the conference, Vice Chancellor the Islamia University of Bahawalpur Prof. Dr. Naveed Akhtar welcomed the distinguished guests and expressed the importance and need of the conference. Prof. Dr. Tanveer Hussain Turabi, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, appreciated the arrival of the delegates in the conference and spoke about the effects of climate change in the agriculture sector. The focal person of the conference, Prof. Dr. Naveed Aslam Malghani, said that 530 scientists, teachers, researchers and experts from America, China, Turkey, Italy, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have registered for the conference. The theme of this year’s conference is “Sustainable agriculture and food security, the nexus of plant pathogens, climate change and water challenges”. Participants addressed the topic of sustainable agriculture and food security with special relevance to plant pathogens, climate change and water challenges. Many famous domestic and foreign speakers participated in the conference. On the second day of the conference, Prof. Dr. Tariq Mukhtar, President of Pakistan Phytopathological Society, Prof. Dr. Hongwei Zhao, Department of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, China, Mr. Maxiayoan Department of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, China, Mr. Kaleem Afzal Corteva Agriscience, Mr. Manzoor Hussain Soomra, President ECO Science Foundation Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Marri, Vice Chancellor Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naeem, Vice Chancellor PMS Arid University Rawalpindi, Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad Qureshi Vice Chancellor Government Sadiq College Women University Bahawalpur gave a detailed speech. More than 430 papers were presented in the conference. This conference is very important for agriculture and provides an opportunity for the people involved in agriculture to meet and discuss the latest trends in crop and disease prevention, use of technology and experts. The conference includes 3 days of interactive learning sessions covering diverse topics related to diseases of fruits, vegetables and field crops keeping in view the needs of sustainable agriculture and food security. The focal person further said that 60 delegates will be mentored to ensure the participation of young scientists especially PhDs in the conference so that they can participate in this mega academic event without any financial problems. Prof. Dr. Naveed Aslam Malghani has thanked Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Naveed Akhtar and Dean Faculty of Agriculture and Environment Prof. Dr. Tanveer Hussain Turabi for their special patronage and guidance in organizing the conference. A large number of officers, faculty members and students participated in the conference.
